REGIONAL REPORT
Northwest Edition
Suzanne Mayr
Regional Manager
Cell: (253) 208-8467
Email: mayr@nfsa.org
June 2014
Area Director:
Jim Boulanger
Patriot Fire Protection
Email: jim@patriotfire.com
Columbia-Willamette NFSA Chapter meeting set for June 11
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Continental breakfast 7:30 a.m./meeting starts at 8 a.m.
Clackamas Fire District Station #5, 9339 SE Causey Ave, Happy Valley OR 97086
Guest speaker: Jeff Harrison, Potter Electric
"Generalized Corrosion and MIC"
Jeff Harrison has been in the industry since 1998, starting at Grinnell Supply Sales in Portland,
Oregon. He and his family moved to Boise in 2005 and started the Boise location of National
Fire
Protection Fabrication and Supply. In 2009, he went to work for Globe Sprinkler covering
Jeff Harrison
the Northwest from Denver to Anchorage. In 2012, Jeff began working for Potter Electric’s
Sprinkler Division covering the Midwest and Northwest where the focus has been corrosion in sprinklers systems and
educating engineers, facility managers, owners, AHJs, contractors and distributors on what generalized and mic
corrosion is, why it’s a problem, and what can be done about it. Jeff's motto is "saving sprinkler systems one facility at
a time."
Puget Sound Chapter lunch meeting on June 12--RSVP today!
Thursday, June 12, 2014 -- email mayr@nfsa.org if you haven't already responded!
Sign-in starts at 11:45, lunch meeting begins at noon
Foster Golf Links, 13500 Interurban Ave. S., Tukwila - Cost is $25 at the door
Guest speaker: Eric Tuazon, Tuazon Engineering
"Hangar Fire Protection Systems per Air Force Standard ETL 02-15"
Eric Tuazon has worked as a fire protection engineer (FPE) in the Seattle area for 19 years.
He has held several FPE positions in the fire insurance industry, Seattle Fire Department, a
mechanical/electrical design firm, and as owner of his own with FPE firm, Tuazon
Eric Tuazon
Engineering, which he established in 2000. Eric provides fire protection system and
fire/life safety design and consulting services on complex Private, Federal, and Dept. of Defense (DoD) construction
projects. Eric is a licensed Professional Engineer in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and California. Eric recently
completed several aircraft hangar projects in Alaska constructed per DoD and Air Force standards. His presentation
will highlight some of the unique design and testing requirements involving high expansion foam systems.
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Sign up now for Southern Oregon Plan Review and Rough & Final
Inspection classes...earn your CEUs and CPDs
July 8-9: 2-Day Sprinkler System Plan Review  July 10: Rough and Final Inspection
Jackson County Fire District 3, 8383 Agate Road, White City, Oregon
During the Plan Review class, participants will be guided through an actual review of sprinkler system plans and
calculations. They will discuss the importance of employing a systematic review process and identify the documents
required for a complete plan review. Finally, they will review a submittal of hydraulic calculation presented with the
plans, discuss the process of hydraulic calculations, and identify the key pieces of information and common errors.
Total Instructional Contact Minutes: 780 min. (1.3 CEUs, 13 CPDs)
During the Rough and Final Inspection class, participants will learn how to conduct the field inspections for new fire
sprinkler and standpipe systems. Participants will learn the visual and physical inspection requirements of the latest
codes and standards. Because fire sprinklers and standpipes are installed in stages, inspections are required before
moving to the next stage. The codes require periodic on-site inspections as the work progresses, to be installed
according to the approved construction documents. This work is required to be inspected and approved before being
covered or before the system is commissioned.
Total Instructional Contact Minutes: 390 min. (.7 CEU)
Professional Approvals: AIA - Provider #: G131, Course #: NFSA08, 7 LU/HSW
For more information and to register: Click Here
Registration now open for Fire Sprinkler Summit on Sept. 18th
AND one-day Residential Sprinkler Class on Sept. 19th
Vendor opportunities
available!
Email
tracyvmoore@moorefire.com
for more info!
Summit Highlights:
Experts from across the country share their experiences, newest data and information.
Panel discussion on water needs, political realities, and code requirements
Live side-by-side burn shows what really happens in a fire...plus learn how to bring this demo to your community
Vendors will showcase the latest technology and resources
Stay at the beautiful Heathman Lodge for a special rate
To register for the Northwest Sprinkler Summit, click here
Residential Sprinklers from Homes to High-Rise Class
NFSA's John Corso will teach this one-day class focusing on applying the requirements for residential sprinklers in one
and two family dwellings and other occupancies, the technological evolution of residential sprinklers, and the differences
between this standard and the existing commercial applications. The seminar uses "hands on" exercises to explain how
to calculate the hydraulics of these systems. Total Instructional Contact Minutes: 0.7CEUs/7 CPDs.
To register for NFSA's Homes to High-rise class, click here
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Mark your calendar for an evening on the shores of Commencement
Bay hosted by the Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board of Puget Sound
For a third year in a row, the NFSA Puget Sound Chapter will hold its August lunch meeting to an evening at
the Tacoma Yacht Club. A social hour on the deck overlooking the water, buffet dinner and an engaging
speaker makes this event a summer highlight.
Guests are welcome, and everyone should enjoy our guest speaker, Steve Gutzler of Leadership Quest, a
Seattle-based leadership development company. Steve has exceptional ability to communicate clear
leadership and business/sales solutions with humor, clarity and insight. He promises to transform and
inspire us with his messages of extraordinary leadership, achievement, success, and significance.
Puget Sound Chapter meeting
Thursday, Aug. 14
Social hour starts at 5:15, dinner served at 6:15 followed by special presentation Steve Gutzler
Tacoma Yacht Club, 5401 Waterfront Drive in Tacoma
Cost is $30 per person
Guests are welcome!
Washington State 2013 fire report cites 14% drop in fire fatalities
In 2013, fire agencies reported 54 fire fatalities to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Compared to the previous year, fire fatalities decreased by 14%, dropping the rate in
Washington State to 7.8 fire deaths per million people, compared to the national fire death rate was 10.7 per million
people (2010 figure).
Fire fatalities occur most frequently where people sleep. In 2013, over 91% of the fire fatalities occurred in
residential occupancies, and another 9% occurred in motor vehicles.
Electrical‐related fires were the leading cause (16%) of fires in which a definitive cause was determined; mostly by
misuse or poor maintenance of electrical equipment, improperly installed wiring, overloaded circuits, or the use of
extension cords in place of permanent wiring.
Smoking was the second leading cause of fire fatalities, especially with high risk behaviors such as smoking in
sleeping or lounging areas, smoking while using medical oxygen and smoking while under the influence of mind
altering drugs or alcohol.
The third leading cause of fire fatalities resulted from home heating fires. Factors include the use of portable space
heaters in lieu of built‐in heating systems, improper installation of heating equipment, lack of maintenance or
cleaning of furnaces, chimneys or flues, and the use of accelerants to start fires.
Access the full report HERE
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Common Voices hosts residential sprinkler day in Clackamas, OR
A national grant enabled Common Voices, a group of Fire
Sprinkler Advocates, to conduct Fire Safety Days across the
country this spring. The whirlwind tour concluded in Clackamas,
Oregon on June 3rd.
Burn survivor Pam Elliott shared her experience as a 9 year old
girl who sustained 3rd degree burns over 50% of her body. Pam
(who is also a registered nurse) shared the often-overlooked
story of burn survivors, including the pain and expense of long
recoveries. Her message was powerful and thought-provoking.
NFSA's Director of Public Fire Protection, Vickie Pritchett,
provided resources, information, and a message of optimism for
local fire sprinkler advocates.
The event concluded with a side-by-side burn hosted by
Clackamas Fire District #1.
Oregon Coalition chair
Shawn Olson updates
attendees on coalition
activities at the Common
Voices event.
Participants gather outside
for a side-by-side burn
demonstration showing the
effectiveness of residential
fire sprinklers.
Oso mudslide fire sprinkler fitter victim fundraiser continues
The online fundraiser to help raise money for two retired sprinkler fitters, Larry Gullikson and Bob
Aylesworth, after they lost everything in the Oso mudslide continues with just over 50% of the goal met.
Link to Website for fundraising and updates
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Washington State Fire Marshal office burn demo trailer schedule
Fulfilling one of its missions to promote fire prevention education, the Washington State Fire Marshal's
office schedules its burn trailer to appear at events all over the state. To request an appearance, contact
Ed Borgatti, Deputy State Fire Marshal at 253-538-3168 or ed.borgatti@wsp.wa.gov.
Current burn trailer schedule:
June 14
0900 – 1200 Kenmore/Shoreline (7220 NE 181st Street, Kenmore)
August 6
1600 – 2000 Pioneer Park (1000 block of East Alder), Walla Walla
August 9
0800 – 1800 Clallam County Fire District #3 (701 North Rhodefer (soccer fields), Sequim)
Sept 27
1300 – 1600 East Pierce Fire & Rescue (18421 Veterans Memorial Dr., Bonney Lake)
October 4 0900 – 1600 Bellevue FD (2802 148th Ave SE)
October 11 1000 – 1400 Longview FD (740 Commerce)
Sampling of NW Sprinkler News
I changed the headline for this particular section of my Regional Report this month because the first story is about
fire sprinklers BEFORE they are needed.
Vancouver, Washington's daily newspaper The Columbian interviewed the Vancouver fire marshal Shawn Newberry
regarding the importance of fire sprinklers in new apartments. Take a minute to click on this link and hear straight
from a Fire Marshal who has seen first-hand the deadly ravages of fire in an apartment building:
The Columbian interview with Vancouver Fire Marshal
Sprinkler Saves:
It seems like Oregon is on a roll with sprinkler saves the past few months--or maybe the Oregon media is doing a
great job of still reporting on fires even when damage is limited and no lives (or pets) are lost. As always, if YOU hear
of a sprinkler save in your state, please call or email me. I'd love to feature it.
Sprinklers save popular University of Oregon burger joint
The Eugene-Springfield Fire Department says there were no injuries in a small fire the morning of May 1 at a
restaurant in the ground floor of an apartment building near the University of Oregon. A sprinkler controlled the fire
in a back room at the Little Big Burger, limiting damage to adjoining Courtside Apartments.
Sprinklers thankfully contain Portland fire as firefighters have a hard time evacuating occupants
On June 2nd, Portland firefighters faced opposition from occupants even as heavy smoke poured out and loud
alarms sounded in their building. Thankfully the sprinkler system contained the fire to its room of origin on the
second floor. Police were called to help. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, and no injuries to civilians or
firefighters were reported.
Tech Tuesday schedule for remainder of 2014 announced
As always, see the last page of my Regional Report for the complete schedule of Tech Tuesday seminars.
This is a great way to bring NFSA experts right to your office!
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2014 "Technical Tuesday" Online Classes
- Features live Q & A
- Qualify for NICET CEUs (.1 CEU/1 CPD each class)
- AIA/CES approved
- Classes begin at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time
Date
Topic
Level
Instructor
6/3/14
Acceptance Testing of Fire Pumps
Intermediate
Bob Upson
6/17/14
Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Fire
Pumps
Basic
Jason Webb
7/15/14
Shadow Areas
Intermediate
Roland Asp, C.E.T.
8/19/14
Protecting Storage of Exposed Plastics
Intermediate
Kenneth E. Isman, P.E.
9/16/14
Room Design Method
Intermediate
Jeff Hugo, CBO
10/21/14
High Ceilings, Step Ceilings and Ceiling
Pockets
Intermediate
Victoria Valentine, P.E.
11/18/14
Protection of Aerosol Storage
Intermediate
Bob Upson
12/16/14
Protection of Aircraft Hangars - Part 2
Intermediate
Jim Lake
NFSA Member: $125 per seminar

Non-Member: $250 per seminar
Save 10% when you register for 6 or 7 seminars—Use Promo Code: SAVE10

To register: Click Here or log onto www.nfsa.org 
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